Matthew 24:23 - “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 24:23" mean?
This verse, Matthew 24:23, is part of Jesus's Olivet Discourse, a lengthy prophecy about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the events leading up to his second coming. Let's break down what it means:
Context: Jesus is warning his disciples about deception in the time leading up to his return. He's already mentioned wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers (Matthew 24:4-22).
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it." This is the key instruction.
"Behold, here is the Christ" or "There": This means people will claim to have found the real Christ in a specific location, or that he has secretly appeared in a certain place. They'll be pointing him out, trying to draw people to a particular individual or movement.
"Don't believe it": This is a direct command not to accept these claims. Jesus is emphasizing the importance of discernment and not being easily swayed.
In essence, Jesus is saying:
There will be false Christs and false prophets: These individuals will claim to be the Messiah or have special knowledge about him.
Their claims will be deceptive: They will try to mislead even the most faithful believers.
The true coming of Christ will be unmistakable: Jesus's return will not be a secret, localized event. It will be a visible and universally recognized event. (See Matthew 24:27, which says, "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.")
Why is this warning important?
To protect believers from deception: Jesus wants his followers to be alert and discerning, relying on the teachings and principles he gave them, rather than being swayed by persuasive but false claims.
To emphasize the nature of his return: Jesus's return will be a global event, not a hidden or local one. There will be no need to be told "he is here" or "he is there." Everyone will know.
To focus on the present task of faithful living: Instead of chasing after false leads and being distracted by sensational claims, believers are called to focus on living out their faith, spreading the Gospel, and being prepared for Christ's return in truth and righteousness.
In short, Matthew 24:23 is a vital warning against being deceived by false Christs and false prophets. It reminds believers that Christ's return will be unmistakable and that they should focus on faithfulness and discernment rather than chasing after localized or secret claims.
Matthew 24:23 - “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.
What does "Matthew 24:23" mean?
This verse, Matthew 24:23, is part of Jesus's Olivet Discourse, a lengthy prophecy about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the events leading up to his second coming. Let's break down what it means:
Context: Jesus is warning his disciples about deception in the time leading up to his return. He's already mentioned wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers (Matthew 24:4-22).
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it." This is the key instruction.
"Behold, here is the Christ" or "There": This means people will claim to have found the real Christ in a specific location, or that he has secretly appeared in a certain place. They'll be pointing him out, trying to draw people to a particular individual or movement.
"Don't believe it": This is a direct command not to accept these claims. Jesus is emphasizing the importance of discernment and not being easily swayed.
In essence, Jesus is saying:
There will be false Christs and false prophets: These individuals will claim to be the Messiah or have special knowledge about him.
Their claims will be deceptive: They will try to mislead even the most faithful believers.
The true coming of Christ will be unmistakable: Jesus's return will not be a secret, localized event. It will be a visible and universally recognized event. (See Matthew 24:27, which says, "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.")
Why is this warning important?
To protect believers from deception: Jesus wants his followers to be alert and discerning, relying on the teachings and principles he gave them, rather than being swayed by persuasive but false claims.
To emphasize the nature of his return: Jesus's return will be a global event, not a hidden or local one. There will be no need to be told "he is here" or "he is there." Everyone will know.
To focus on the present task of faithful living: Instead of chasing after false leads and being distracted by sensational claims, believers are called to focus on living out their faith, spreading the Gospel, and being prepared for Christ's return in truth and righteousness.
In short, Matthew 24:23 is a vital warning against being deceived by false Christs and false prophets. It reminds believers that Christ's return will be unmistakable and that they should focus on faithfulness and discernment rather than chasing after localized or secret claims.